In the middle of the night, I felt a hand touch my shoulder.  Charlene had reached out in her sleep.  It seemed to be a touch of reassurance.  A touch to tell her that I was there by her side.

I smiled.  A smile reflecting the joy it has been to be beside her for many a year.  Many a year filled with happiness and sorrow.  Adventure and mundane.  Sunny days and chilly nights.  Many a year by her side and I would not have it any other way.

So “Happy Birthday,” my dear.  Thank you for being you.  We would not have it any other way.

BIRTHDAY WAFFLE CAKE

“Decadent meets breakfast meets birthday.  What a perfect way to celebrate her day.”

15.25 ounce box Chocolate Cake Mix, plus ingredient list on box

2 cups Freeze-Dried Raspberries (I found them at Target)

1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

1/2 cup Mascarpone Cheese

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 cup Heavy Cream

1/2 bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup Raspberries

Preheat the waffle maker.

Prepare the box of chocolate cake mix and use it in place of waffle batter.

Make your waffles and set aside.

Using a food processor, combine the freeze-dried raspberries and powdered sugar.  Pulverize them into dust.

Add the mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and 1 cup of heavy cream into the food processor.  Pulverize to combine.  Set aside.

Place the semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/2 cup heavy cream into a bowl.  Microwave in 30 second intervals, while stirring in between, until completely melted.  Set aside.

Note that the height of your waffle cake will depend on the size of your waffles, so stack until you have just enough raspberry filling to top the cake.

Place one waffle on a plate.

Top the waffle with raspberry filling, but leave an empty circle in the middle.

Fill the circle with some of the microwaved chocolate ganache.

Top with another waffle and repeat, until you have just enough raspberry filling to top the final waffle.

Place the fresh raspberries on the top waffle.

Drizzle with some of the remaining ganache.

Dust with powdered sugar.

Top with candles, light the candles, sing Happy Birthday, and enjoy!

 

Serves about 5.

Revised Source:  “Chocolate-Raspberry Waffle Cake” recipe on www.foodnetwork.com.